Take lunch or dinner outside at these stunning outdoor dining spots on the North Fork.
The North Fork is lovely, magical, and practically perfect in July, August, and September. And although many of the restaurants we love are great indoors, the summer and early fall months are also an ideal time to take your dinner outside. With café-style seating, waterfront options, and everything in between, this Fork is the place to go if you’re thinking of dining al fresco. As far as where to go when the weather warms up, we’ve compiled some of our most beloved spots that have outdoor options. Read on for our outdoor dining recommendations for this season.
At 1943 Pizza Bar, in Greenport, you can have your pie and eat it, too. Although the pizza oven makes for a devilishly hot companion, you won’t have to worry about that while sitting on the restaurant’s petite outdoor patio. There, enjoy Neapolitan-style, 14-inch, wood-fired pies, all cooked off in a domed oven (you can still admire it from the pass-through; the windows open to the restaurant inside). The pizza hot spot offers classics, like a margherita with fresh mozzarella, and even bar snacks, like bewitching meatballs, also cooked off in the wood oven.
In Orient Point, Duryea’s, open only during the season, draws diners who are eager to spend afternoons and evenings out on the water. With its own beach club, a dock that welcomes those approaching by sea, and a dining area outfitted in neutrals and shades of blue, Duryea’s is the ultimate summer hangout for anyone in need of a little outdoor summer respite. Views of Gardiner’s Bay abound, as does the consummate selection of lobster rolls, raw shellfish, crudités, and Mediterranean spreads. With a glass of rosé in hand and your feet in the sand — the Beach Bar is perfect for a cocktail before or after dinner, in fact — there’s no denying that this spot provides one of the best outdoor dining experiences on the North Fork.
With a slightly more urban feel — if you can define Greenport as urban — Pearl Restaurant & Bar, on Main Street, offers up Korean-inflected tapas with a heavy emphasis on local seafood. Inside, an intimate restaurant awaits, but diners can also sit on the outdoor patio, overlooking the street itself. Shrimp and chive dumplings (served with a ginger-soy dipping sauce), sweet-and-sour glazed pork ribs, and a bulgogi beef stir-fry are all standouts on a menu that prides itself on local sourcing and the thoughtful and considered execution of dishes.
And, for a more casual meal, there’s always Jack’s Shack, the seasonal spot at the Sound View, in Greenport. This poolside spot offers delightful bites, like a fluke ceviche made with passion fruit, coconut milk, red onion, cucumber, and cilantro; a hearty lobster roll amplified by a tarragon aioli and served on a toasted brioche bun; and a sweet pea hummus with roasted garlic, mint, lemon, and Tajin. Wash it all down with a Jungle Bird: dark rum, pineapple, Campari, lime, and demerara sugar. And make sure to come when the day is sunny and clear, so you can enjoy the best of the summer weather.
